Construction of bridges



GONS'I'RUGTION 0F BRIDGES, ROOFS, &c.

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J. B. GR-EINER.

y CONSTRUCTION 0F BRIDGES, ROUES, 56.

No. 528,940. Patented Nov. 13, 1894.

Tus uoRRis trans co.. PHoYaLmso., WASHING-row n UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOHN EDWIN GREIN'ER, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

CONSTRUCTION OF BRIDGES, ROOFS, 840.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 528,940, dated November13, 1894.

Application led February 14, 1894. Serial No. 500,112. (No model.)

To @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that 1, JOHN EDWIN GRE-INEE, of Baltimore, Maryland, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Bridges, Roofs, or otherStructural Work; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention relates to improvements of bridges, roofs, or otherstructures in which it is desired to transmit vstrains roccasioned bythe imposed loads to the different members of the truss; and the objectof my improvement is to arrange, construct and connect the abuttingmembers'of the truss in a way that will eectively transmit and providefor all the strains that are liable to bebrought on any or all members,and atthe same time to pro Vide a new and eectivemeans of adjustmentwhich will bring the different members to a firm bearingvand hold themso permanently. I attain these objects by the mechanism and arrangementsillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is anelevation of a part of a truss showing hinge bearings at A, B, and D,lower chord K composed of one rail or shape and the upper chord F. oftwo rails or shapes spread so as to'lap over the sides of the singleshape lower chord or over the sides of the cheek plates A connectedthereto. This figure also shows in proper positions brace f L,stidfhangers P and .B, hinged bearings a, b, and d, wedge bearing O,cheek plates A, B and D, door beams S, hanger bolt E, connection lugsfn, bearing surfaces h and pins o. Fig. 2 is a large scale elevationview of one end of a truss having a single rail in both upper and lowerchords. Fig. 3 is a plan view of Fig. 2, the upper chord being removed.Fig. 4. is an elevation view on large scale, showing a single rail chordand the intermediate cheek plate B with connections. Fig. 5

stiff hanger or post, the bottom chord, doorbeam, hinge blocks, and adjustingscrew bolts. Fig. 9 is a transverse elevation of Fig. 6.

Viewing Fig. 1 which represents two panels of the truss at theintersections of the members, there are provided blocks b and d placedbetween the cheek plates B and D and blocks or angle iron a placed onoutside of cheek plates A. These blocks are bored to receive pins o,which pass through the cheek plates A, B, D. The blocks a., h, d movefreely about the pins o, but are confined laterally by the side or cheekplates A, B, D or by head and nut of the pins o. The front edges h ofthe hinge blocks a, b, d form abutting surfaces for the compressionmembers to bear against, and as each block is allowed a certain amountof oscillatory movement, the two surfaces, that of the bearing edge ofthe block and that of the abutting member, can adjust themselves so asto be brought into intimate contact and thereby make a perfect bearing.

The enlarged views of the hinge bearing blocks shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4and 5, represent some of the various means of connecting the blocks tothe plates and the plates holding these blocks to the members of thetruss. These connections may be for single members as at A in Fig. 2, Bin FigA or D in Fig. 8 for double members as atA in Fig. 5 or for moremembers when found necessary.

The upper chord F simply bears against the block a and is not fastenedthereto, but is simply bolted to the cheek plates. The upper chord bearsagainst the wedge C on surface h and is shown connected thereto by meansof bolts passing through angle lugs n. A similar connection may be madeto angle blocks d if desired.

The cheek plates A in Fig. 2, are simply bolted to sides of rail K butin Fig. 5, these cheek plates are set into a notch cut into the ange ofthe rail for a part of their length, the other part bearingagainst theupper surface of the rail llange whereby the horizontal component of thestrain in inclined top chord, is transmitted to the bottom chord throughthe projecting edge which fits into the notch cut into the rail iange,and the vertical component of said strain is transferred from the cheekplates to the upper surface of the flange of rail against which thesecheek plates partly bear. The bolts connecting these cheek plates to therail, are intended merely to hold the plates firmly in position.

BraceL bears against blocks b and d and is not secured thereto, but isbolted to the cheek plates.

Referring to Figs. 8 and 9, the sti hangers P are securely connected toa wedged bearing C which can be made of wrought or cast iron or steel,against which the chords F abut on surface h and are held in position bybolt c. The hangers are spread at the lower ends so as to clear thebottom chord and so as to give lateral stability. The bolt E takes holdof the cheek plates which are connected to the bottom chord and passesthrough a strap or saddle H connected to a sti hanger P or R. This boltcan also be made to pass under and around the lower chord or to takedirect hold of the same, and may be made to pass up and through thewedge bearing 0. By screwing down the nut on the bolt E, the wedgemarked C, 1s drawn to a firm bearing against the upper chord and thelower chord is drawn upward, thereby bringing the brace F to abearingath. After the bottom chord has been raised above the floor beam byscrewing down the nut on the bolt E,tillers or packing pieces G, areinserted between the chord and the licor-beam, which when bolted orriveted together, the whole truss will be in perfect adjustment andrequire no future attention. The bolt E having served its purpose, t'.c., drawn the parts into proper adjustment, could be removed if desired.

Fig. 10 represents a somewhat different construction of truss, but inwhich practically the same principles claimed by me as new, areinvolved. This truss has a horizontal upper chord F and an inclined endpost M, composed of two rails or shapes, which bear against the wedgebearing C and hinged bearings a. The two rails forming this end post,are spread so as to lap over the sides of the siuglebottom chord rail,or over the sides of the cheek plates A.

Fig. 11 shows side view of wedge C as used for the truss in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is the back view of Fig. 11 with chords F removed.

Fig. 13 shows hinged bearing blocks e attached to the top of the hangerP which may be used instead of the wedge bearings C and for the samepurpose.

Fig. 14 is a back view of Fig. 13 with chords F removed.

The superiority of my in ventionover trusses used in bridges as usuallyconstructed, is as follows:-First, it will give a firm and substantialstructure with little or no vibration g second, the ends of allcompression members, will come to a true and even bearing whether theybe cut square or on an angle, and they need not be faced off, theordinary shearing cut given at the mills, being sufficient; third,

after being once adj usted, the bridge will remain so as there arenoties and counter ties to get out of adjustment; fourth, by havingriveted floor beam connections to sti suspenders, these Suspenders willact as knee braces for holding the upper chord in position when understress; fth, my system of truss embodies great strength and rigiditywith the least cost.

Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this myinvention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would herestate that I have in setting out the nature of the invention, showncertain special arrangements or connections, using certain shapes ofrolled iron or steel and special modes of arrangements for makingconnections between the parts attached to the system. I wish it to beunderstood however, that although these forms, modes and arrangementsillustrated, may be used with advantage, yet I do not limit my inventionto these special things, as the improvement may be carried out in manyways and in connection with dierent forms of trusses and the connectionsof their members without departing from its spirit and scope, and thatit is susceptible of many modifications, and will necessarily have to bevaried in many ways to suit the various purposes and conditions of itsapplication, and i I declare what I claim in respect of the hereindescribed invention is- 1. In the construction of trusses for bridges orother structures, the herein described hinge bearing blocks a, b, d heldin position by pins o passing through cheek plates A, B, D, as shown anddescribed and for the purposes set forth.

2. In the construction of trusses forbridges or other structures, thecheek plate A, Figs. 5 and 6, having lugs projecting below the loweredge and which fit snugly into notches cut into the rail; the lower"edge of cheek plate on each side of lugs to bear against the uppersurface of the rail flange all as shown and described and for thepurpose set forth.

3. In the construction of trusses for bridges or other structures theadjusting device shown in Figs. 8 and 9 which consists of a bolt Eeither directly or indirectly connected to the lower chord, and at upperend to any part of the hangers P by means of either a bridge plate as IIFig. 9 or by passing through and connecting to the wedge C, all as shownand described and for the purposes set forth.

4. In trusses for bridges, roofs or other structures, the combination ofhinged bearings with rigid braces independent of, yet bearing againstthe hinged bearing and the combination of an adjusting device,consistin'g of a lifting screw, bridge plate and hangers with a rigidsuspender, all as shown and described and for the purpose set forth.

5. In the construction of bridges or other structures, the hereindescribed truss consist- IOO IIO

ing of top and bottom chords, braces, rigid suspension members incombination with the hinged bearing blocks a, b, d, held in position bypin o, secured to cheek plates A, B, D and the adjustable deviceconsisting of a bolt attached to lower chord and hangers as shown anddescribed and for the purpose set forth.

6. In the construction of trusses for bridges and other structures thehinged bearing block a, and the adjusting device consisting of a boltattached to lower chord and hanger as shown and described and for thepurposes set forth.

7. In the construction of trusses for bridges or other structures, thecombination of hinged bearings with rigid braces independent ot' yetbearing against the hinged bearing and the combination of an adjustingdevice consisting of a lifting bolt, bridge plate and hangers with arigid suspender, all as shown and described and for the purposes setforth,

8. In the construction of trusses for bridges or other structures, thehinged block a, free to oscilla-te conned in position by pin o and cheekplates A in combination with the abutting braces F, wedge C, the rigidhangers P, the adjusting bolt E with its attachments and packing pieces,all as described and set forth in the accompanying drawings andspecification. l

9. The stiff hanger Pin combination with the wedge bearing C as in Fig.8 all as described and set forth for the purposes specified.

JOHN EDWIN GREINER.

VVtnesses: I

JAMES A. MERCIER, PHILIP AYLE'r'r.

